A shift from dry to wet climate conditions marked the beginning of the
Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) as evidenced by a precipitation
reconstruction based on a pollen abundance index. Charcoal increases
around AD 840-1140 signal the presence of Polynesians in the Keālia Pond
region, but there is no evidence of rapid and extensive forest
clearance immediately after Polynesian arrival.

What was done
Based on "high-resolution palynological, charcoal, and sedimentological
analysis of a sediment core from Kealia Pond, Maui, coupled with
archaeological and historical records," as they describe it, Pau et al. developed "a detailed chronology of vegetation and climate change since before human arrival."

What was learned
Most pertinent was the three researchers' finding that "a shift from dry
to wet climate conditions marked the beginning of the Medieval Climate
Anomaly (MCA) as evidenced by a precipitation reconstruction based on a
pollen abundance index." They note, for example, that over the 2500
years of their record "there have been two major climatic events: first
the MCA (AD 800-1300), followed by the Little Ice Age (AD 1400-1850)."
And with respect to this finding, they indicate that "increased rainfall
during the MCA in Hawai'i supports the evidence that climate dynamics
during the MCA was consistent with decreasing El Nino frequency or a
persistent La Nina-like state," as espoused by Crowley (2000), Bradley et al. (2003), Cobb et al. (2003) and Mann et al. (2005).

What it means
In the case of the early inhabitants of Maui, Pau et al. write
that "an increase in forest resources during this wet climate interval
coincided with rapid Polynesian population growth," which suggests that
the Medieval Warm Period was a time of prosperity for them, especially
when compared with the Dark Ages Cold Period and Little Ice Age that
preceded and followed it, much as has also been found for many other
places around the world. See, in this regard, various reviews archived
under Medieval Warm Period in CO2 Science's Subject Index.Although the Alarmists deviously insist that the MWP was only a Northern Europe phenomenon
this paper shows that Hawaii was affected. See, in this regard, various reviews archived
under Medieval Warm Period in CO2 Science's Subject Index.

Sir Henry Fraser has an impressive CV.
Barbados' newest knight, retired university professor, Dr. Henry Fraser, received the Accolade of Knight of St. Andrew, in the 2014 Independence Day Hours. Sir Henry Fraser was named as a result of The Knighthood of St. Andrew being bestowed on him for his outstanding contribution to the medical profession and representation of Barbadian culture, especially in the area of its architectural history.Sir Henry, a medical practitioner by profession, has worked for many years as a lecturer in medicine at the University of the West Indies and now serves as an Independent Senator in the Barbados Parliament where he has gained an outstanding reputation for his work on the historic treasures of Barbados.

He has received a plethora of other awards, including the UWI’s Pelican Award, Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and the Gold Crown of Merit (GCM) in the Barbados Honours of 1992.